A former state official who took bribes that benefited a business owner, and the official's acquaintance who helped pass along the bribes, were sentenced Thursday to terms in federal prison.
For Steven Jones of Marion, former deputy director of the state Department of Human Services and a former state representative, the 2½-year prison term was a sharp reminder of how his life has changed.
Five people who testified on his behalf spoke of his legacy of public service and leadership in the impoverished Delta, and his ability to get things done when others couldn't to benefit disadvantaged people across the state.
For Phillip Carter, a former West Memphis City Councilman and Crittenden County juvenile probation officer, who also lives in Marion, the two-year prison term imposed by U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson was his second federal conviction in three years.
In 2013, he was one of four people, including then-Rep. Hudson Hallum, who pleaded guilty to participating in an election-fraud ploy to ensure that Hallum won three special elections.
Jones pleaded guilty in October 2014 and Carter pleaded guilty in September to participating in a bribery scheme involving the owner of two mental-health companies that Jones, in his capacity as a director at the state agency, oversaw.
Ted Suhl of Warm Springs was identified as the owner of those companies in a Dec. 2 indictment that accuses him of funneling $10,000 to $20,000 to Jones, through Carter and an unnamed pastor, between 2007 and 2012. Suhl has pleaded innocent and is awaiting trial, which is set to begin July 12.
Jones oversaw five of the 10 divisions in the state's largest agency, which has more than 7,500 employees and a budget of about $6.8 billion. He previously served in the state House of Representatives for six years, representing District 54, which included most of Crittenden County. He also was a senior vice president at Bancorp South.
Jones, 51, has said he solicited and obtained cash and other things of value from Suhl, 60, who faces six charges. Carter, 46, has admitted to being an intermediary who helped funnel money through the pastor's church and provide cash to Jones so the payments wouldn't be easily traceable. Jones and Carter admitted to meeting periodically at restaurants in Memphis or in rural Arkansas, where they wouldn't be easily recognized, to make the exchanges.
Jones faced up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years for the second charge of bribery concerning a program that received federal funds. He faced a fine of up to $250,000 on each charge.
Federal sentencing guidelines recommended a penalty range of 30 months to 37 months and a fine of $6,000 to $60,000 for both charges together. Federal prosecutors, citing their agreement with Jones to encourage him to plead guilty, recommended the minimum sentence within the guideline range. Wilson imposed the 30-month sentence and a $6,000 fine.
Jones was represented by attorneys Michael Booker and Rickey Hicks, both of Little Rock. Hicks urged the judge to sentence Jones to a term below the guideline range, preferably to community service in lieu of prison, but Wilson rejected the request, saying "it's important that he be incarcerated as a message to the public about what happens when people with energy and talent go wrong."
After listening to testimony about Jones' earlier life, Wilson said he had "no doubt" that Jones "had tremendous energy and tremendous talent," and was a real "mover-shaker."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Jegley argued that Jones violated not only his trust as a public official but the trust he developed in the community and his position as a role model. Although Hicks called Jones' illegal actions a matter of "poor judgment" that he exercised for "a moment in time," Jegley said he violated the law on at least 10 separate occasions, possibly as many as 20 occasions, over a period of years.
Among those who testified as character witnesses for Jones was Little Rock attorney Phil Kaplan, who has been in practice 54 years. Kaplan said he met Jones in 2009 while serving as the chairman of the newly reconstituted Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission and on the board of the Arkansas Educational Television Network Foundation, of which Jones was the president.
Kaplan said one of the commission's goals was to renew its association with the Human Services Department, which got off to a good start when, during a meeting with Jones and John Selig, the agency director, Jones enthusiastically supported a proposed series of youth conferences across the state that have been "remarkably successful."
"We think our voice within DHS was Steve Jones," Kaplan testified, noting that with a $35,000 to $50,000 grant from the agency, the youth gatherings thrived.
Jack Crumbly Sr., a retired state senator of six years, a former member of the St. Francis County Quorum Court and former Earle School District superintendent, talked about a peer tutorial program that Jones helped establish and find funding for in the impoverished district. He said the program was later expanded to other counties and received an award from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Crumbly also credited Jones for starting a campaign that encouraged Earle voters to approve a millage increase, resulting in a new high school to replace a 1919 structure that had never been renovated.
"Mr. Jones has always exemplified the best of what the Delta had to offer," Crumbly testified. "He cared about people, and he was always there."
Wilson also heard from a pastor in Earle who credited Jones with turning around the Church of God in Christ, which when Jones got involved had just 15 members and its building was in foreclosure. Jones worked with the bank, allowing the church building to eventually be paid off, the Rev. Alvin Coleman Jr. told the judge. "Without his direct involvement, that church would not exist today."
Crittenden County Treasurer Charles Suiter Jr., who said Jones became his best friend 30 years ago, credited Jones for getting him involved in public service. "Everyone gravitated toward him for help," Suiter testified.
Jones' wife of nearly 20 years, Susan Jones, told the judge that her husband had a major role in the revitalization of Helena -- where she grew up -- attracting jobs, developing the downtown area and fixing sewer lines that hampered the city's economic development. She said he was also instrumental in the Dec. 1 opening of an Earle branch of the East Arkansas Family Health Center, where she is the chief executive officer.
Jones then stood before Wilson, admitting that he "got involved in something" when "I should have risen above it, taken the high road, but I didn't."
He recalled his mother visiting him at home after he was elected to the state Legislature and seeing a letter addressed to "the Honorable Steve Jones."
"She said, 'Honorable!' Don't ever do anything to make them not see you as this!"
His mother was unable to attend the hearing Thursday, but his father and other family members were there in support.
Wilson agreed to give Jones 60 days to get his affairs in order before reporting to prison April 18.
Metro on 02/19/2016